Aircraft: Beech Bonanza. Injuries: None. Location: Rutland, Vermont. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: According to the pilot, after landing, he attempted to taxi toward the FBO. The surface of the ramp was hard-packed snow. He initiated a left turn but the airplane continued heading straight ahead toward a fuel truck that was parked on […]
aviation accidents
Wind shift bends Cessna
Aircraft: Cessna 182. Injuries: None. Location: Bellview, Texas. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: Before setting up to practice touch-and-go landings, the pilot overflew the airport, checked the windsock, and verified the wind was from the south at 10 knots. He entered the traffic pattern for a landing on runway 15. During the first approach, […]
VFR pilot descends into fog
Aircraft: Bellanca 7ECA. Injuries: None. Location: Tehachapi, Calif. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: The accident occurred just before dusk. The non-instrument-rated pilot stated that prior to departure, weather reports indicated that clear skies prevailed at the departure airport with patches of fog at his destination. Despite the possibility of fog, he decided to attempt […]
Student pilot hit by propeller
Aircraft: Cessna 172. Injuries: 1 Serious. Location: Albermarle, N.C. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: The student pilot and flight instructor had landed, parked, and secured the airplane. They returned about 15 minutes later and attempted to restart the airplane but were unable to do so. An external battery supply was connected to the airplane […]
Nose-first landing bends Cessna
Aircraft: Cessna 172. Injuries: None. Location: McKinney, Texas. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: The pilot reported that windy conditions existed during the flight, but the wind was not a crosswind during landing. However, the airplane touched down hard on the nosewheel, bounced, and then settled onto the runway. Post-accident examination revealed that the nosewheel […]
Tailwheel failure in Pitts
Aircraft: Aerotek Pitts S-1T. Injuries: None. Location: Billings, Mont. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: The pilot was returning to his home airport. During the first landing attempt he lost control of the airplane during the landing roll, so he aborted the landing. On the second landing attempt, he again was not able to maintain directional control and […]
Student hogs rudders
Aircraft: Allegro. Injuries: None. Location: Adrian, Mich. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: While on approach for a touch-and-go landing, when the airplane was about 30 feet above the ground, the flight instructor directed the student pilot to go around. The student added power, and the airplane began to roll and yaw to the left. The student incorrectly […]
Improper maintenance leads to gear failure
Aircraft: Cessna 150. Injuries: None. Location: Juneau, Alaska. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: The flight instructor was demonstrating a short field, three-point landing. The touchdown was normal, but during the landing roll a gust of wind pushed the airplane, and it began to turn to the right. When the instructor applied left brake in […]
Pilot mistakes torque tube for brakes
Aircraft: Piper Cherokee. Injuries: None. Location: Newport News, Va. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: The pilot thought that he positioned his feet on the toe brake pedals during engine start. After starting, the engine accelerated to a higher rpm than expected, and the airplane began to roll forward. The pilot pressed down with his […]